Diagsheet

Model year 2016

2016 Hyundai Elantra

  • 292owner complaints
  • 2recalls
  • 22involved a crash
  • 60,000median miles at failure

Newest report Aug 29, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

miles

When each problem shows up

Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine stalls or loses power while driving, 52 complaints.

0k25k50k75k100k125k150kyou
Wheel bearing, tires or wheels12 reports
Airbag warning light or recall26 reports
Engine stalls or loses power while driving52 reports
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing42 reports
Check engine light or misfire22 reports

middle half of reports, median tick. Darker bars have 75 or more reports.

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    Around your mileage

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        How this compares

        2016 Hyundai Elantra292
        Median 2016 model here (106 vehicles)252
        Median 2016 sedan here (28)231

        292 complaints is 1.2 times the median 2016 model on this site and 1.3 times the median 2016 sedan. Among the 9 Elantra model years here it ranks 3rd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.

        Complaints filed by year

        515
        1716
        1417
        2518
        2319
        2520
        3521
        3722
        3823
        3424
        1925
        2026

        38 complaints came in 2023. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.

        NHTSA investigations

        DP21-003opened Nov 12, 2021
        Speed control · model years 2007 to 2016

        Throttle control system vulnerabilities. Closed jun 20, 2023.

        NHTSA summary
        The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recor

        Recalls that include the 2016 Hyundai Elantra

        Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

        26V-307May 15, 2026
        Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

        Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Elantra and 2016 Elantra GT vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.

        Risk and remedy
        Risk: An air bag inflator that ruptures may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or passengers, increasing the risk of injury or death.
        Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 3, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated August, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 300. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 16, 2026.
        24V-146Feb 23, 2024
        Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Latch

        Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Elantra vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."

        Risk and remedy
        Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
        Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 256.

        Other model years

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